tRNA衍生片段（tRFs）是一种新兴的小非编码RNA类别，由成熟tRNA或tRNA前体的裂解产生。高通量测序技术的发展促进了越来越多具有不同生理和病理生理过程关键功能的tRFs的鉴定。tRFs可以通过多种机制调节细胞的生存能力、分化和稳态，因此被认为是包括癌症在内的人类疾病的重要调节因子。此外，越来越多的证据表明，细胞外tRFs可能被用作癌症液体活检的有希望的诊断和预后生物标志物。在本综述中，我们着重关注tRFs的生物发生、分类和修饰，并总结了tRFs的多方面功能，重点介绍了tRFs在癌症中的当前研究现状和展望。©2023年。作者（S）。

tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are an emerging category of small non-coding RNAs that are generated from cleavage of mature tRNAs or tRNA precursors. The advance in high-throughput sequencing has contributed to the identification of increasing number of tRFs with critical functions in distinct physiological and pathophysiological processes. tRFs can regulate cell viability, differentiation, and homeostasis through multiple mechanisms and are thus considered as critical regulators of human diseases including cancer. In addition, increasing evidence suggest the extracellular tRFs may be utilized as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for cancer liquid biopsy. In this review, we focus on the biogenesis, classification and modification of tRFs, and summarize the multifaceted functions of tRFs with an emphasis on the current research status and perspectives of tRFs in cancer.© 2023. The Author(s).